The patriarch of the Kent Family Chronicles (The Bastard, 1974; The Rebels, 1975; The Seekers, 1975) is Philip Kent, whose experiences in France and England motivate him to cross the Atlantic and join the struggle for America's independence. No longer interested in fighting for his inheritance, he begins anew. With the voyage and the death of his mother en route, Phillipe, aka Philip, in effect, crosses the point of no return and commences a desperate search for a place in the new world.

The portrayal of Philip shifts from the realistic to the contrived; he is sometimes portrayed sympathetically, other times not. Although not always successful in achieving his immediate goals, the character possesses a superhuman quality whereby he can slay his adversary and emerge untarnished.

Representing the pioneering spirit of the country itself, Philip settles down and absorbs ideas from colonists, becoming politically active in the cause of freedom. Wavering...